Cold and flu season is upon us here in Spokane, and everyone is coming down with some form of illness. Now, everyone will tell you to get rest and eat chicken noodle soup, but coming from a university student, there are better and simpler ways to fight that college cold.
The first thing, the one that might be the most important, is to hydrate. I don’t think I can emphasize this enough. Spending all week walking from College Hall to Bollier to Jepson will dehydrate you and make you sick. Having your emotional support water bottle becomes a necessity, especially during these chilly times.
Adding lemon or honey to warm water also soothes the throat and adds vitamin C for a simple remedy. I have also been living off of Liquid IV, a staple hydration quencher with electrolytes and nutrients.
Continuing on the liquid track, warm teas with herbs and spices are an easy way to remedy a sickness from the comfort of your dorm or apartment. Herbs like turmeric and ginger have antioxidants and immune boosting properties and can be added to an herbal tea in the morning or before bed.
This next one I learned from my grandmother. Elderberry is an antiviral remedy for a cold or flu. The berry promotes the health of the immune system and can be ingested easily, as a vitamin gummy or as a syrup. It’s a quick addition to your daily routine.
When you feel the sickness coming — your throat itches and your nose is stuffy — there is no time to waste when it comes to your health as a college student.
This past week I learned this the hard way when it hurt to swallow in the morning — one of the most dreaded feelings to wake up to. I made the mistake of not trying to snuff the illness immediately, and I regretted it the following morning. Now, I have to huff it over to John J. Hemmingson Center to grab a “Medicine Ball” tea from Starbucks to try and soothe the pain.
That’s another simple treatment for sickness. Although, I can’t say it has real medicinal values, a Honey Citrus Mint Tea from Starbucks — more commonly known as a “Medicine Ball” — does soothe the throat. But don’t mistake it for a real remedy to cure your college illnesses.
If you’re feeling a stuffy nose like I have been these past few days, spicy foods can clear your sinuses. It keeps your nasal passages clear, which when stuffed, can be an annoying problem to deal with in your 9 a.m. lecture. You’ll long for the feeling of clear sinuses that you took for granted two days prior.
For a college student, avoiding cold and flu season is practically impossible, but taking some quick and easy proactive measures to ensure you aren’t suffering in your chemistry lab or Jepson lecture will look a lot more appealing when you are reminded what not being able to breathe feels like. It seems like a drag, but so is a scratchy throat.
Drink water, tea, take your vitamins and eat some spicy COG food — you won’t regret it later.
Josie Kuffner is a staff writer.